Chess Puzzle #aU2Py — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2300 · Expert · advantage, middlegame, quiet move, short, trapped piece.

Position

White: king g1; queen f2; rooks a1/f1; knight e3; pawns a2/b2/c3/d3/e4/f3/g3/h3. Black: king g8; queen f4; rooks f7/f8; knight c6; pawns a5/c5/c7/d6/e5/e6/g7/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxf3 — queen f4→f3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe1 — queen f2→e1. Opponent replies Qxf1+ (queen f3→f1, captures rook, gives check).
  3. Best move: Nxf1 — knight e3→f1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, quiet move, short, trapped piece. The key move is Qe1.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/2p2rp1/2npp3/p1p1p2p/4Pq2/2PPNPPP/PP3Q2/R4RK1 b - - 0 20

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.